In the same vein as director Tarik Saleh’s 2017 critically acclaimed film The Nile Hilton Incident, which explored Egypt’s political corruption and moral decay, Cairo Conspiracy is a political thriller that takes place at Al-Azhar University, the most prominent Islamic institution in the world, where the power dynamics of religion and politics take center stage.
Adam (Tawfeek Barhom), the son of a fisherman, is shocked and delighted when the village imam announces that he will be attending the esteemed Al-Azhar University. His strict, pious, yet loving father permits him to further his study, and Adam’s journey begins. The world-building of Al-Azhar University is very impressive, and its surroundings and grandeur provide a unique and exciting viewing experience. An integral aspect of the curriculum involves students forming concentric circles around a professor while he lectures on philosophical and Islamic concepts in a beautiful campus courtyard. The students live in a hostel where each room has six bunk beds, and it is so congested that they hardly have enough space to walk around. Adam is content with his routine at the university, but the Grand Imam’s (the university president’s) sudden demise will change his life in ways he cannot yet imagine.
The rule is that the Grand Imam, once chosen, is guaranteed to remain president for the rest of his life. As a result, following the death of the grand imam, the power struggle of those who want to see the next president begins, paving the way for political machinations between the university and the government administration. The authoritarian Egyptian government wishes to establish its puppet at the helm, while the Muslim Brotherhood, a radical group of university students, has its own agenda and wishes to choose the imam of their choice. Meanwhile, Adam befriends a fellow student named Zizo (Mehdi Dehbi), who shows him life outside the university, where they sneak out every night to enjoy the nightlife at the city center. Zizo has been working covertly for State Security under the supervision of Colonel Ibrahim (Fares Fares), who appears like a 50-year-old computer nerd with his hair de-poofed, big glasses, untucked shirts, and belly poking out. Adam’s world turns upside down when Zizo gets killed, and he must take over Zizo’s duty as the undercover operative for the government.
As it turns out, Adam was granted admission to the university for a reason, and his future was predetermined before he even stepped foot on campus. Adam and Ibrahim frequently meet in an American coffee shop, where Ibrahim tells Adam to join the radical Muslim Brotherhood. This group is angry that the Egyptian government is not doing much to stop atrocities that are happening against Muslims all over the world. Adam’s life becomes increasingly difficult as he gets more involved with the group. He must demonstrate to the group that he is as radical as they are by reading forbidden Jihad-related books. He had to betray a friend to gain the confidence of the group leader, Nazim (Mouloud Ayad). Later, he receives a crucial assignment to discredit the rival candidate vying for the university president.
Despite having a compelling storyline, the film feels emotionally hollow, owing primarily to Adam’s unlayered characterization, as he is presented as someone who blindly follows orders. The viewers are unaware of his personal beliefs or what his conscience thinks about some of his actions in the film. A little more depth in his character would have made it easier to empathize with him and root for him even more. Towards the end of the film, it is clear that Tarik Saleh doesn’t care much about who wins the power struggle. Instead, he takes the boy’s side and wants him to live a happy, peaceful life away from this corrupt and rotten world. Cairo Conspiracy is now available on Amazon Prime Video.
Cairo Conspiracy movie link: IMDB
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